If God Himself Be For Me
If God Himself Be For Me is a hymn text. Found in CW21 819, CW93 419, ELH 517, elw 788. Sung to IST GOT FÜR MICH.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 819
- Christian Worship — 419
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 517
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 788
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 454
- Lutheran Service Book — 724
- Lutheran Worship — 407
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 528
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Protection and provision in God's sovereignty: from spiritual victory over enemies, through justification in Christ, to sustenance in affliction, culminating in divine provision
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 7 (2×)
- Lent 1 (2×)
- St. James The Elder (2×)
- Trinity 21 (2×)
- Easter 6 (1×)
- Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (1×)
- Transfiguration (1×)
- Trinity 11 (1×)
- Trinity 4 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 15 (3×)
- Lent 5 (2×)
- Easter 7 (1×)
- New Year's Eve (1×)
- Proper 12 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Paul Gerhardt's fifteen-stanza meditation on Romans 8:31-39 — 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' — is one of the great Lutheran hymns of assurance. It moves from God's favor (st. 1-2) to its single foundation, Jesus and his blood (st. 3-5), to the triumphant 'Naught, naught can now condemn me' (st. 6, Rom 8:1, 33-34). The middle stanzas turn to the Spirit, who cries 'Abba' in us and intercedes with groans too deep for words (st. 7-8), and who speaks of the city to come (st. 9-10). Gerhardt then faces the cost of discipleship honestly (st. 11-12) before the closing litany of things that cannot separate us from God's love (st. 13-14), ending in springing joy (st. 15). It is justification by faith sung as personal confidence.
Central theme: Because God is for us in Christ, nothing — no accusation, enemy, suffering or power — can condemn us or separate us from his love
Structure
Fifteen eight-line stanzas (7.6.7.6 D), following Romans 8:31-39. God for me (1-2) — Christ the foundation and Defender (3-5) — no condemnation (6) — the Spirit's witness and intercession (7-10) — the cost of discipleship (11-12) — nothing can separate (13-14) — joy (15).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel-dominant. The Law is present as the judgment the believer escapes: 'before God's awe-full throne… be destroyed forever' (4), 'God's great Judgment Day' (5). The answer: 'He canceled my offenses' (5); 'Naught… can now condemn me' (6).
Confessional Connections
Justification: 'Jesus and His blood alone are my salvation' (st. 3; AC IV; SA II.1 'Nothing of this article can be yielded'). Christ as Defender before God's throne — his intercession (Ap XXI; 1 John 2:1). 'Naught… can now condemn me' — the conscience freed from the Law's accusation (Ap IV). The Spirit as giver of faith, prayer and assurance (SC Third Article; LC II.3). The cross of persecution as the Church's mark (st. 11; Luther, On the Councils and the Church, 'holy possession of the cross'). Perseverance as God's gift, not our strength (FC XI).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Trinity season; Romans 8 readings; funerals; times of persecution or doubt; Reformation.
Historical Notes
First printed in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica (1653). Gerhardt was later removed from his Berlin pulpit (1666) for refusing to sign the Elector's edict restricting Lutheran polemic against the Reformed — st. 11-12's 'though life and limb it cost me' was not merely theoretical for him.
About the Tune
TLH: VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN (Melchior Teschner, 1613), written for Valerius Herberger's hymn of farewell. Row 688 lists IST GOTT FÜR MICH, the tune associated with the LW/LSB setting.
Scripture References
Rom 8:31-39 Rom 8:1 Rom 8:15-16 Rom 8:26-27 Ps 27:1 Ps 118:6 1 Cor 3:11 Acts 4:12 Phil 3:7-8 Mal 4:2 1 John 2:1 Col 2:13-14 1 John 4:17 Gal 4:6 Heb 11:10, 16 Heb 13:14 1 Pet 1:4 2 Tim 3:12 John 15:18-20 Matt 16:24-25 Ps 46:2
Stanza by Stanza
If God himself is for me, I can defy an army; when I pray, my enemies flee in confusion. If Christ my Head and Master befriends me from above, what enemy or disaster can drive me from his love?
Rom 8:31: 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' The whole hymn hangs on this conditional, which is no condition at all — God is for us in Christ. 'Christ, my Head' — the believer as member of Christ's body (Eph 1:22-23). The last line anticipates Rom 8:35.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:31, Rom 8:35, Ps 27:1-3, Ps 118:6, Eph 1:22-23
- Imagery & language
- A host defied; foes fleeing; Head and Master.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God for us.
- Connection to previous
- God for me.
This I believe — rather, this is my boast — that God is my dear Father, the friend who loves me most, and that whatever happens my Savior is near to guide me through stormy seas and bring me safely to land.
'This I believe… of this I make my boast' — boasting in the Lord, not in self (1 Cor 1:31; Gal 6:14). God as 'dear Father' — the Lord's Prayer's 'Our Father' explained in SC: 'that we may with all boldness and confidence ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.' Stormy seas (Ps 107:29-30; Mark 4:39).
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 1:31, Gal 6:14, Rom 8:15, Ps 107:29-30, Mark 4:39
- Imagery & language
- Boast; dear Father; stormy seas; safe harbor.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God as Father.
- Connection to previous
- Confession of faith.
I build on this foundation: Jesus and his blood alone are my salvation, the true and eternal good. Without him everything pleasant on earth is worthless; only the gifts I owe to Jesus are worth my love.
The heart of the hymn: 'Jesus and His blood alone' — solus Christus, sola gratia. The foundation (1 Cor 3:11; Isa 28:16). 'No other name' (Acts 4:12). All else 'valueless' (Phil 3:7-8). AC IV: justified freely for Christ's sake through faith.
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 3:11, Isa 28:16, Acts 4:12, 1 John 1:7, Phil 3:7-8
- Imagery & language
- Foundation; blood.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ alone.
- Connection to previous
- Foundation.
Jesus is my splendor, my only sun and light. If he were not my defender before God's awesome throne, I would never find favor or mercy in his sight, but would be destroyed forever, like darkness by light.
A frank Law-statement: without Christ, God's holiness would annihilate the sinner 'as darkness by the light' (Heb 12:29; Isa 6:5). But Christ stands as 'Defender' — Advocate (1 John 2:1), clothing us in his righteousness. 'Splendor… Sun' (Mal 4:2; John 8:12). ('Awe-full' is TLH's spelling — awe-inspiring.)
- Scripture
- Mal 4:2, John 8:12, Heb 12:29, Isa 6:5, 1 John 2:1, Rom 8:34
- Imagery & language
- Sun and light; throne; darkness destroyed.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — destruction without Christ; Gospel — Christ the Defender.
- Connection to previous
- Defender.
He cancelled my offences and delivered me from death; he is the Lord who cleanses my soul from sin through faith. In him I can be cheerful, bold and always undaunted; in him I do not fear God's great Judgment Day.
'Canceled' — Col 2:14, 'canceling the record of debt.' Cleansing 'through faith' — faith receives (AC IV). The fruit: boldness on Judgment Day (1 John 4:17). A remarkable claim — the believer looks forward to judgment without fear, because the verdict is already spoken.
- Scripture
- Col 2:13-14, Acts 15:9, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 4:17-18, Rom 5:1
- Imagery & language
- Cancelled debt; cleansing; Judgment Day.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — sins cancelled; judgment without fear.
- Connection to previous
- Cancelled.
Nothing — nothing — can condemn me now or set my hope aside; hell can no longer claim me, and I laugh at its fury. No sentence will ever reprove me, no evil destroy my peace, for Christ my Savior loves me and shields me with his grace.
Rom 8:1: 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' Rom 8:33-34: 'Who shall bring any charge… Who is to condemn?' The doubled 'Naught, naught' is the Gospel's emphatic answer to the accusing conscience (Ap IV). 'Its fury I deride' — Luther's defiance of the devil (TLH 262, st. 3).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:1, Rom 8:33-34, John 5:24, 1 Cor 15:55, Rom 5:1
- Imagery & language
- No condemnation; hell derided.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — no condemnation.
- Connection to previous
- No condemnation.
His Spirit lives in me and rules my mind; he drives away all sorrow and soothes all pain. He crowns his work with blessing and helps me cry 'My Father!' without ceasing to him who lives on high.
Rom 8:9-11: the Spirit dwells in believers. Rom 8:15-16; Gal 4:6: the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry 'Abba! Father!' Prayer itself is the Spirit's work in us (SC Third Article: 'The Holy Spirit has called me… enlightened… sanctified').
- Scripture
- Rom 8:9-11, Rom 8:15-16, Gal 4:6, 1 Cor 3:16
- Imagery & language
- Indwelling Spirit; 'My Father!'
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit of adoption.
- Connection to previous
- Spirit of adoption.
When my soul lies weak, trembling and oppressed, he pleads with groans and sighs that cannot be expressed; but God's quick eye perceives them, though they make no sound, and turns them into language deep in the heart.
Rom 8:26-27: 'the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit.' A profound comfort for those too weak even to pray — the Spirit prays in them. Gerhardt's image: God 'turns into language' the soundless groans.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:26-27, Ps 38:9, Ps 139:1-4
- Imagery & language
- Wordless groans; God's quick eye.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's intercession.
- Connection to previous
- Groans.
His Spirit speaks sweet words of holy cheer to my spirit: how God is always near to anyone seeking rest, and how he has built a fair new city where we will forever see what our faith expected.
Rom 8:16: 'The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit.' The new city (Heb 11:10, 16; Rev 21:2). 'What our faith expected we evermore shall view' — faith becomes sight (2 Cor 5:7; 1 Cor 13:12).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:16, Matt 11:28, Heb 11:10, 16, Rev 21:2, 2 Cor 5:7
- Imagery & language
- Spirit's witness; new city.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — witness and hope.
- Connection to previous
- The city.
In that home my inheritance flourishes; though I die and perish here, my heaven will not fail me. Though care often saddens my life and makes tears flow, the light of Jesus gladdens and sweetens every sorrow.
The inheritance 'kept in heaven' (1 Pet 1:4). Rom 8:17-18: heirs with Christ; present sufferings not worth comparing. Tears are real, but Christ's light sweetens them.
- Scripture
- 1 Pet 1:3-5, Rom 8:17-18, Ps 16:5-6, Rev 21:4
- Imagery & language
- Heritage; tears; light.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — inheritance secure.
- Connection to previous
- Heritage.
Whoever clings firmly to him whom Satan hates must expect persecution; the burden of mockery, shame and loss awaits him, heaped on his blameless head; a thousand plagues and crosses will be his daily bread.
Honest realism: 'all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted' (2 Tim 3:12; John 15:18-20). Luther named 'the holy possession of the sacred cross' a mark of the true Church. 'Daily bread' of crosses — a striking reversal of the Fourth Petition.
- Scripture
- 2 Tim 3:12, John 15:18-20, Matt 5:11-12, Rom 8:36
- Imagery & language
- Persecution; daily bread of crosses.
- Law / Gospel
- Law-realism — the cost of discipleship.
- Connection to previous
- Persecution.
I know this, yet I am not afraid; as commanded, I leave my cares to the one to whom I made my vows. Though it cost me life and limb and everything I gained, I will trust you unshaken and cling to you alone.
'Casting all your anxieties on him' (1 Pet 5:7). 'To whom my vows were paid' — baptismal faith. 'Though life and limb it cost me' recalls Luther's 'Take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife' (TLH 262, st. 4). Matt 16:25.
- Scripture
- 1 Pet 5:7, Matt 16:24-25, Phil 3:8, Rev 2:10
- Imagery & language
- Cares left; life and limb.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — trust under cost.
- Connection to previous
- Unshaken trust.
Though the earth be torn apart, you are mine forever; not fire, sword or thunder will cut me off from you; not hunger, thirst or danger, pain or poverty, nor the anger of mighty princes will ever hinder me.
Rom 8:35: 'Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?' Ps 46:2: 'though the earth gives way.' 'Mighty princes' anger' — again personal for Gerhardt.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:35-37, Ps 46:1-3, Isa 54:10
- Imagery & language
- Rent earth; fire, sword, thunder.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — inseparable.
- Connection to previous
- Inseparable I.
No angel or joy, no throne, pomp or show, no love, hate or sadness, no pain or depth of woe, no human scheme small or great will draw me from your guidance or separate me from you.
Rom 8:38-39: 'neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers… nor height nor depth… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Gerhardt adds 'gladness' and 'love' — even good things cannot become idols that draw us away when God keeps us.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:38-39, John 10:28-29
- Imagery & language
- Catalogue of powers.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — nothing can separate.
- Connection to previous
- Inseparable II.
My heart leaps for joy and can no longer be sad; it is full of mirth and song and sees nothing but bright sunshine. The sun that cheers my spirit is Jesus Christ my King; what I will inherit makes me rejoice and sing.
The hymn ends where Romans 8 ends — in triumph ('more than conquerors,' Rom 8:37). Christ the Sun (Mal 4:2) returns from st. 4. Joy rests on the inheritance, not on circumstances (1 Pet 1:6-8).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:37, Mal 4:2, 1 Pet 1:6-8, Phil 4:4
- Imagery & language
- Springing heart; sunshine; Sun-King.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — joy.
- Connection to previous
- Joy.